Page 23 - BENTLEY SYSTEMS PR REPORT - March 2025

3/18/25, 1:06 PM Interview: Challenges & Opportunities in Smart, Sustainable Cities
comes to large-scale investments, particularly when projects need

to support the demand and capacity for the next century.

Moreover, the global demand for resilient infrastructure is surging,

as cities strive to expand energy grids, modernize transportation

systems, and retrofit existing structures to meet sustainable

development goals. These massive undertakings require trillions in

investment and decades of effort. In addition, there are not enough

skilled engineers to carry out these important projects, leading to

the need for advanced technologies like AI that can offset mundane

tasks, allowing engineers to focus on higher-value activities.

Dubai stands as a shining example in this regard, with the Emirate

investing USD 8 billion to increase the city’s drainage capacity by

700 per cent, in response to unanticipated rainfall and floods. In

order to tackle key issues, the wise leadership has implemented

several strategic initiatives, preparing public systems for similar

challenges that might arise in the future.

Let’s also talk about the skill gap, how can cities and countries

solve this challenge?

Within the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC)

industry, we see an evident issue of skill gap on a global scale. To

address this pressing concern impacting the urban development

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